U.S. patent number 4,889,485 [Application Number 07/188,049] was granted by the patent office on 1989-12-26 for orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GAC International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Eiji Iida.
United States Patent |
4,889,485 |
Iida |
December 26, 1989 |
Orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth
Abstract
An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth has a base
portion, a base plate attached to the base portion and a plurality
of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer surface of the
base plate and attached thereto. The apparatus is attachable to the
surface of a tooth by applying an adhesive material to the
plurality of layers of mesh material and bonding the mesh material
directly to the surface of the tooth.
Inventors: |
Iida; Eiji (Okhuma,
JP) |
Assignee: |
GAC International, Inc.
(Central Islip, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
14462987 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/188,049 |
Filed: |
April 29, 1988 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 30, 1987 [JP] |
|
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62-107589 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
433/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C
7/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61C
7/16 (20060101); A61C 7/00 (20060101); A61C
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;433/8,9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peshock; Robert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kenyon & Kenyon
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
a plurality of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer
surface of said base plate and attached thereto, each of said
layers of mesh material providing a layer of interstitial passages,
said apparatus being attachable to the surface of a tooth by
applying an adhesive material to said plurality of layers of mesh
material and bonding said plurality of layers of mesh material
directly to the surface of the tooth.
2. The orthodontic apparatus of claim 1, wherein
one of said layers of mesh material is a different mesh than at
least one of said other layers of mesh material.
3. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
a plurality of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer
surface of said base plate and attached thereto, wherein the mesh
of said outermost layer of mesh material is finer than the mesh of
each of said interior layers of mesh material, said apparatus being
attachable to the surface of a tooth by applying an adhesive
material to said plurality of layers of mesh material and bonding
said plurality of layers of mesh material directly to the surface
of the tooth.
4. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
a plurality of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer
surface of said base plate and attached thereto, wherein the mesh
of each said successive layer of mesh material in the direction
from said base plate to said outermost layer of mesh material is
finer than the mesh of said preceding layer of mesh material, said
apparatus being attachable to the surface of a tooth by applying an
adhesive material to said plurality of layers of mesh material and
bonding said plurality of layers of mesh material directly to the
surface of the tooth.
5. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
three layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer surface of
said base plate and attached thereto, wherein said first layer of
mesh material is attached to said base plate and said third layer
of mesh material is the outermost layer, said apparatus being
attachable to the surface of a tooth by applying an adhesive
material to said layers of mesh material and bonding said layers of
mesh material directly to the surface of the tooth.
6. The orthdontic apparatus of claim 5, wherein
said first layer of mesh material is approximately 100 mesh,
said second layer of mesh material is approximately 200 mesh,
and
said third layer of mesh material is within the range of 300 to 400
mesh.
7. The orthodontic apparatus of claim 5, wherein
each of said layers of mesh material is approximately 400 mesh.
8. The orthodontic apparatus of claim 5, wherein
said first layer and said second layer of mesh material are each
within the range of 100 to 200 mesh, and
said third layer of mesh material is within the range of 300 to 400
mesh.
9. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
a plurality of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer
surface of said base plate and attached thereto, wherein the mesh
of said outermost layer of mesh material is rougher than the mesh
of each of said interior layers of mesh material, said apparatus
being attachable to the surface of a tooth by applying an adhesive
material to said plurality of layers of mesh material and bonding
said plurality of layers of mesh material directly to the surface
of the tooth.
10. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
a plurality of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer
surface of said base plate and attached thereto, wherein the mesh
of each said successive layer of mesh material in the direction
from said base plate to said outermost layer of mesh material is
rougher than the mesh of said preceding layer of mesh material,
said apparatus being attachable to the surface of a tooth by
applying an adhesive material to said plurality of layers of mesh
material and bonding said plurality of layers of mesh material
directly to the surface of the tooth.
11. The orthodontic apparatus of claim 5, wherein
said first layer of mesh material is in the range of 300 to 400
mesh,
said second layer of mesh material is approximately 200 mesh,
and
said third layer of mesh material is approximately 100 mesh.
12. An orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth, said
apparatus comprising:
a base portion,
a base plate attached to said base portion, and
two layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer surface of
said base plate and attached thereto, wherein said first layer of
mesh material is attached to said base plate and said second layer
of mesh material is the outermost layer, said apparatus being
attachable to the surface of a tooth by applying an adhesive
material to said plurality of layers of mesh material and bonding
said plurality of layers of mesh material directly to the surface
of the tooth.
13. The orthodontic apparatus of claim 12, wherein
said first layer of mesh material is approximately 200 mesh,
and
said second layer of mesh material is approximately 100 mesh.
14. A base member for attaching an orthodontic apparatus to a
tooth, said base member comprising:
a base plate, said base plate defining on one side thereof an outer
surface for attaching an orthodontic apparatus thereto, said base
plate further defining on an opposite side thereof an inner surface
for attaching mesh material thereto; and
at least two layers of mesh material, said layers of mesh material
being superimposed on said inner surface of said base plate and
attached thereto, each of said layers of mesh material providing a
layer of interstitial passages, said base member being attachable
to a tooth by applying adhesive material to said layers of mesh
material for bonding said base member to a tooth.
15. A base member as defined in claim 14, wherein
one of said layers of mesh material is a different mesh than at
least one of said other layers of mesh material.
16. A base member as defined in claim 15, wherein
at least one of said layers of mesh material is finer than 100
mesh.
17. A base member as defined in claim 14, wherein
one of said layers of mesh material has a different mesh
construction than at least one of said other layers of mesh
material.
18. A base member as defined in claim 17, wherein
at least one of said layers of mesh material is a plain fabric-type
mesh and at least one of said other layers of mesh material is a
twill-type mesh.
19. A base member as defined in claim 14, said base member
comprising:
three of said layers of mesh material, said first layer of mesh
material being attached directly to said inner surface of said base
plate and said third layer of mesh material being the outermost
layer.
20. A base member as defined in claim 19, wherein
said first and second layers of mesh material are each in the range
of 100 to 200 mesh, and said third layer of mesh material is in the
range of 300 to 400 mesh.
21. A base member as defined in claim 19, wherein
said first layer of mesh material is in the range of 300 to 400
mesh, said second layer of mesh material is approximately 200 mesh,
and said third layer of mesh material is approximately 100 mesh.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to orthodontic apparatus, and more
particularly, is directed to apparatus such as orthodontic
brackets, buccal tubes and lingual appliances having an improved
construction for attachment to a tooth.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Orthodontic brackets for direct bonding to a tooth are well known
and typically include a body portion defining a slot in the front
surface thereof for holding an archwire. Wing portions of the
bracket project outwardly for attaching ligature wire thereto for
securing the archwire to the bracket.
A base plate of the bracket is attached to the bottom of the base
portion in a conventional manner. In certain brackets it is known
to include a single layer of mesh material which is in turn,
superimposed on the base plate, and attached thereto. The bracket
is mounted to a tooth by applying adhesive to the mesh layer which
is pressed against the surface of the tooth. The layer of mesh
material improves the strength of the bond between the bracket and
the tooth by imparting what is termed an "undercut effect" to the
back surface of the base plate.
One problem associated with brackets using the single layer of mesh
material, is that the system provides a relatively weak bond
between the bracket and the tooth. Additionally, when the bracket
body is pulled from the tooth surface during, or after treatment,
the single layer mesh construction and the large openings in the
mesh material cause a large quantity of adhesive material to remain
on the surface of the tooth As a result, a great deal of labor is
required to remove the remaining adhesive and to polish the surface
of the tooth. This problem is particularly troublesome sometimes
when the adhesive removed from the tooth results in damage to the
enamel of the tooth.
It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide an
orthodontic apparatus for mounting to a tooth that overcomes the
above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages of known apparatus.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for
mounting to a tooth that provides an increased bonding strength
between the bracket and the tooth over known apparatus.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus
for mounting to a tooth that leaves only a small quantity of
adhesive material on the surface of the tooth when the apparatus is
removed from the tooth.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
in view of the following detailed description and drawings taken in
connection therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an orthodontic apparatus for
attachment to a tooth. The apparatus of the invention comprises a
base portion, a base plate attached to the base portion and a
plurality of layers of mesh material superimposed on the outer
surface of the base plate and attached thereto. The apparatus is
attached to the surface of a tooth by applying an adhesive material
to the plurality of layers of mesh material and bonding the layers
of mesh material to the surface of the tooth.
In one apparatus of the invention each successive layer of mesh
material in the direction from the base plate to the outermost
layer of mesh material is rougher than the mesh of the preceding
layer of mesh material.
Another apparatus of the invention comprises three layers of mesh
material wherein the first layer of mesh material is attached to
the base plate and the third layer of mesh material is the
outermost layer.
In yet another apparatus of the invention comprising three layers
of mesh material, the first layer of mesh material is 300 to 400
mesh, the second layer of mesh material is approximately 200 mesh,
and the third layer of mesh material is approximately 100 mesh.
The several layers of mesh material of the apparatus of the
invention provide an increased bonding strength between the bracket
and the tooth over known apparatus, and upon removal of the bracket
from the tooth, the layers of mesh material permit only minute
portions of adhesive material to remain on the tooth.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an orthodontic apparatus
for attachment to a tooth embodying the invention.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown
assembled.
FIG. 2B is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention illustrating a twill type of mesh
material.
FIG. 2C is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention illustrating a plain fabric type of
mesh material.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention wherein the outer layer of mesh
material has a finer mesh than the interior layers of mesh
material.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention wherein the outer layer of mesh
material has a rougher mesh than the interior layers of mesh
material.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention including two layers of mesh
material.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of an orthodontic bracket
embodying the invention is illustrated 10. The bracket 10 comprises
a base portion 12, an archwire slot 14 defined in the front face
thereof for holding an archwire, and a pair of wing portions 16, 16
for the attachment of ligature wire thereto, not shown, for holding
the archwire in place. A metal base plate 18 of the bracket is
attached to the bottom of the base portion 12 in a conventional
manner.
The bracket 10 further comprises a plurality of layers of mesh
material including a first layer of mesh material 20, a second
layer of mesh material 22 and a third layer of mesh material 24.
The first layer of mesh material 20 is superimposed on the outer
surface of the base plate 18 and is attached thereto. The second
layer of mesh material 22 and third layer of mesh material 24 are
superimposed on one another and, in turn, superimposed on the outer
surface of first layer 20 and attached thereto. The layers of mesh
material are attached to one another and to the base plate 18 in a
conventional manner, such as, for example, by diffusion
welding.
The bracket 10 is mounted to the surface of a tooth by applying a
known adhesive material, not shown, to the outer surface of the
third layer of mesh material 24. The adhesive coated surface of the
bracket 10 is then pressed against the surface of the tooth, not
shown, and held in place until the adhesive material is cured. The
several layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24 permit the adhesive
material to flow therethrough and accordingly, increase the
strength of the bond between the adhesive material and the bracket
10.
The layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24 are preferably made of
stainless steel wire mesh and in this embodiment, each layer of
mesh material is 400 mesh, which has far more narrow openings than
for instance the 100 mesh material employed in known devices.
The type of mesh material employed in the bracket 10 is either the
twill type wherein the stainless steel warp wire and woof wire are
joined in two straddles, as shown in FIG. 2B, or the plain fabric
type wherein the warp wire and woof wire are alternately joined as
shown in FIG. 2C. The preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 2B and
2C will be described in further detail below. Although different
types of mesh material can be effectively employed, the twill and
plain fabric types have proven to be most effective in imparting an
undercut effect to increase the strength of the bond between the
bracket and a tooth.
It has also been found that the mechanical strength of the bond
between the adhesive material and each layer of mesh material can
be substantially increased by varying the type of mesh material
with the different layers of mesh. For example, a plain fabric type
mesh may be employed for the first and second layers of mesh
material 20 and 22, whereas a twill type mesh may be used for the
third layer of mesh material 24, which is directly bonded to the
surface of a tooth. On the other hand, a twill type mesh may be
employed for the first and second layers of mesh material 20 and
22, and a plain fabric type mesh for the third layer of mesh
material 24. In either case, the mechanical strength of the bond
between the adhesive material and layers of mesh material is
increased as compared to the case where only one type of mesh
material is employed.
The orthodontic bracket 10 is constructed by mounting the base
plate 18 to the bottom of the base portion 12 and attaching it
thereto in a conventional manner. As shown in FIG. 2A, the base
plate 18 is manufactured with a curved configuration in order to
mate with the bottom surface of the base portion 12. The layers of
mesh material 20, 22 and 24 are then superimposed on one another
and on the outer surface of the base plate 18 and attached thereto
in a conventional manner, such as by diffusion welding. The exact
order of combining the components of the bracket 10 may be varied.
For example, the layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24 can be first
superimposed on, and attached to a large sheet of base plate
material which is in turn, cut into individual base plates 18. Each
base plate 18 and attached layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24
are then attached to a base portion 12 of an orthodontic bracket.
The latter method of construction may be more desirable since it is
more convenient to attach the several layers of mesh material 20,
22 and 24 to a large sheet of base plate material rather than
attach them to an individual base plate 18. In any event, the three
layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24, preferably 400 mesh, are
substantially finer than that employed in known devices and cause
the bracket of the invention to substantially increase the undercut
effect and thus increase the strength of the bond between the
bracket 10 and the surface of a tooth.
The several layers of mesh material of the bracket 10 increase the
bonding area for the adhesive material in comparison to known
devices employing only a single layer of mesh material and
accordingly, increase the strength of the bond between the bracket
10 and the tooth. Furthermore, the construction of the bracket 10
also permits only minute amounts of adhesive material to remain on
the surface of the tooth upon removal of the bracket therefrom. The
several layers of mesh material fractionate the adhesive material
into minute portions so that upon removal of the bracket 10 from a
tooth, any adhesive material remaining on the surface of the tooth
is in tiny portions that can be easily removed from the tooth
without the threat of damage thereto. Accordingly, the labor
required in removing adhesive material and polishing the surface of
the tooth after removal of the bracket 10 is greatly reduced as
compared to that associated with the use of known devices.
Turning to FIGS. 2B and 2C, further embodiments of the base plate
18 and layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24 of the bracket 10 are
shown. The layers of mesh material are superimposed on one another
and attached to the base plate in the same manner as described
above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2 for the previous embodiment.
However, the first layer of mesh material 20 is 100 mesh, the
second layer of mesh material 22 is 200 mesh, and the third layer
of mesh material 24 is 300 to 400 mesh. As heretofore described,
FIG. 2B illustrates a twill type of mesh material whereas FIG. 2C
illustrates a plain fabric type of mesh material.
The bracket 10 of either FIGS. 2B or 2C therefore is constructed so
that the openings of the mesh material become narrower from the
base plate 18 to the outer layer of mesh material 24. It is also
possible with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, to vary the
types of mesh material with the different layers of mesh in order
to increase the strength of the bond between the adhesive material
and the layers of mesh material, as described above in relation to
FIGS. 1 and 2 for the previous embodiment.
Turning to FIG. 3 another embodiment of the base plate 18 and
layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24 of the bracket 10 is shown.
The layers of mesh material are superimposed on one another and
attached to the base plate in the same manner as described above in
relation to the previous embodiments. As can be seen, the bracket
of FIG. 3 employs a twill type of mesh material. However, the first
and second layers of mesh material 20 and 22 are 100 to 200 mesh,
and the third layer of mesh material 24 is 300 to 400 mesh.
Turning to FIG. 4 another embodiment of the base plate 18 and
layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24 of the bracket 10 is shown.
The layers of mesh material are superimposed on one another and
attached to the base plate in the same manner as described above in
relation to the previous embodiments. As can be seen, the bracket
of FIG. 4 employs a twill type mesh material. However, the first
layer of mesh material 20 is 300 to 400 mesh, the second layer of
mesh material 22 is 200 mesh, and the third layer of mesh material
24 is 100 mesh.
The bracket 10 of FIG. 4 therefore is constructed so that the
openings of the mesh material become wider or, that is, the mesh
becomes rougher from the base plate 18 to the outer layer of mesh
material 24. It has been found that this ordering of the several
layers of mesh material results in an increase in the strength of
the bond between the bracket 10 and the surface of the tooth.
However, upon removal of the bracket 10 from the tooth, this
construction permits only minute amounts of adhesive material to
remain on the surface of the tooth.
In FIG. 5, yet another embodiment of the bracket 10 of the
invention is shown. The bracket 10 of FIG. 5 however, includes only
the two layers of mesh material 20 and 22. The layers of mesh
material are superimposed on one another and attached to the base
plate 18 in the same manner as described above in relation to the
previous embodiments. The bracket 10 of FIG. 5 also employs a twill
type of mesh material. The first layer of mesh material 20 is 200
mesh, and the second or outer layer of mesh material 22, is 100
mesh. This particular construction has also been found to provide
an increased bonding strength between the bracket 10 and the
surface of the tooth, yet permits only minute portions of adhesive
material to remain on the tooth after removal of the bracket
therefrom.
Although the apparatus of the invention has been described in
several preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they may
be modified without departing from the scope of the claims of the
invention. For example, the bracket 10 may comprise at least two or
more layers of mesh material. Additionally, the shape of the
bracket 10 need not be limited to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It
is only necessary that the bracket 10 be of a type that can be
directly attached to the surface of a tooth. Indeed, the invention
contemplates the use of any type of orthodontic apparatus
including, for example, buccal tubes and lingual appliances.
Furthermore, any of a variety of materials may be employed for the
layers of mesh material 20, 22 and 24, such as, for example,
synthetic resin materials that may be attached to the outer surface
of the base plate 18 by means of an adhesive. The specification and
drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather
than in a restrictive sense.
* * * * *